Restaurant company says it plans to work through next steps with Chicago-area warehouse facility employees
Portillo’s Inc. said it would be working on the next steps after workers at a food production center in Addison, Ill., voted last week to unionize.
Workers at the warehouse facility of Oak Brook, Ill.-based Portillo’s, which went public in 2021, voted 28-20 to accept union affiliation, said the National Labor Relations Board, the federal agency that oversees the elections.
The Chicago Sun Times said the employees will become members of the Iron Workers Union, formally called the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers Union.
Portillo’s, in statement, said “With these results, we appreciate everyone’s participation in the election – and we will work through the next steps in the NLRB process and look forward to continuing to work with all of our team members.
“We are proud of the competitive pay, career growth, development opportunities, and outstanding benefits – including health insurance, paid time off, a wellness program, learning resources, meal benefits, and reward and recognition programs – that we provide for our team members,” the company said.
Unlike recent union votes at consumer outlets of Starbucks, Burgerville, Ben & Jerry’s and Chipotle Mexican Grill, the union vote was at Portillo’s Food Services in Addison, which prepares and delivers food to the brand’s restaurants in the Chicago area.
Portillo’s, which specializes in Chicago-style hot dogs and Italian beef sandwiches, has more than 70 restaurants in 10 states.
Union organizers said the bargaining unit will cover 49 people. The union would not include employees at the restaurants.
Fernando Jimenez, a forklift driver at Addison and a union-drive organizer, told the Sun-Times that workers wanted a contract that would guarantee better wages and benefits, more vacation time and paid sick days, which he said are currently not offered.
Portillo’s will report first quarter 2023 financial results before the markets open on May 4.
For the fourth quarter ended Dec. 25, Portillo’s net income swung to a profit of $2.7 million, or 8 cents a share, from a loss of $33.8 million, or 52 cents a share, in the prior-year period. Revenues increased 8.6% to $150.9 million from $138.9 million in the same quarter last year.
Portillo’s same-store sales increased 6% in the fourth quarter.
Portillo’s was founded in 1963.
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